BJP, AAP welcome SC intervention in UP Lokayukta appointment

Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday welcomed the appointment of retired Justice Virendra Singh as the new Lokayukta of the state by the Supreme Court.

Miffed at the delay in the appointment by the state government, the apex court on Wednesday appointed the Lokayukta.

Bharatiya Janata Party's state president Laxmikant Bajpayi termed the decision of the Supreme Court "unprecedented".

He said that because of the constitutional crisis that had arisen out of the delay in the crucial appointment, the governor should dismiss the Akhilesh Yadav government.

He also charged the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party of conniving to let the incumbent Lokayukta continue even while the Supreme Court had long time back sought appointment of a new Lokayukta.

"This nexus is on display, as several recommendations against BSP leaders have not been acted upon by the present government," he said.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also welcomed the apex court intervention.

It said this had amply proved that the state government was not serious in combating graft.

"We welcome the intervention of the Supreme Court but it's a sad day that the work of the executive had to be done by the judiciary as the former was not doing its bit," AAP state spokesman Vaibhav Maheshwari told IANS.